Senior doctor backs minimum booze price plans

A HAMPSHIRE doctor has welcomed plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol.

The government will later today unveil proposals to impose a minimum price of 45p per unit of alcohol.

Multi-buy deals in supermarkets and off-licences could also be banned, under proposals being put out for consultation.

Home Secretary Theresa May is outlining the package in an effort to ''turn the tide'' on a culture of irresponsible drinking estimated to cost the taxpayer £21 billion annually.

Dr Mark Wright, a consultant hepatologist at Southampton General Hospital, said: ''This is a very positive step which will have a significant impact on the heaviest problem drinkers without really affecting those with a more moderate intake and I'm sure all liver doctors will welcome it.

''Most importantly, it is good to see the Government taking the lead with this massive problem - the prior strategy of leaving the regulation of alcohol marketing in the hands of drinks manufacturers made about as much sense as suggesting the weapons industry try and broker a Middle East peace deal.''

Officials said it was currently possible to buy a can of lager for as little as 20p, and a two litre bottle of cider for £1.69.

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More than a million crimes and 1.2 million hospital admissions were linked to alcohol last year.

The Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), made up of 32 medical and counselling organisations, welcomed the step.

But chairman Professor Sir Ian Gilmore said the minimum unit price should be 50p rather than 45p.

''The evidence shows us that heavy drinkers and young drinkers are more affected by higher alcohol prices than moderate drinkers,'' he said.

''According to the University of Sheffield, a minimum unit price of 50p would reduce total alcohol consumption by 6.7%, saving around 20,000 hospital admissions in the first year.''

However, the drinks industry warned that the 45p threshold would hit modest consumers hard, without addressing the underlying problems.

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association chief executive, said: ''While the Government may be consulting on 45p consumers should be aware that the final minimum unit price could be much higher than that.

''In the Spring we were told it would be 40p, it's already 45p, we know that health groups are calling for a price of at least 50p and the Scottish Government has already proposed a 50p minimum unit price.

''The impact at 50p would see 65% of prices in supermarkets and off-licences rise with a bottle of vodka increasing in price from £9 to £13.13.''

Home Office officials insisted the consultation was targeted at ''harmful drinkers, problem pubs and irresponsible shops''.

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''Those who enjoy a quiet drink or two have nothing to fear from our proposals.''

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Comments (25)

''Those who enjoy a quiet drink or two have nothing to fear from our proposals.'' So will we be issued with a voucher exempting us from the price increases ?

''Those who enjoy a quiet drink or two have nothing to fear from our proposals.''
So will we be issued with a voucher exempting us from the price increases ?Dasal

''Those who enjoy a quiet drink or two have nothing to fear from our proposals.'' So will we be issued with a voucher exempting us from the price increases ?

Score: 0

one in a million says...12:15pm Wed 28 Nov 12

Probably because he can afford to pay it!

Probably because he can afford to pay it!one in a million

Probably because he can afford to pay it!

Score: 0

ohec says...12:34pm Wed 28 Nov 12

They can jack the price up as much as they like for all i care the amount i drink won't make them rich, nobody complained about the attack on smokers so now its the drinkers turn. But this is just another of this inept governments ideas that will not achieve its goal and they know it, if they were really serious they would stop all alcohol sales except pubs and off licenses but that wouldn't go down to well with their buddies who own the supermarkets, what it would do is throw the pubs a lifeline and take alcohol back into responsible hands.

They can jack the price up as much as they like for all i care the amount i drink won't make them rich, nobody complained about the attack on smokers so now its the drinkers turn.
But this is just another of this inept governments ideas that will not achieve its goal and they know it, if they were really serious they would stop all alcohol sales except pubs and off licenses but that wouldn't go down to well with their buddies who own the supermarkets, what it would do is throw the pubs a lifeline and take alcohol back into responsible hands.ohec

They can jack the price up as much as they like for all i care the amount i drink won't make them rich, nobody complained about the attack on smokers so now its the drinkers turn. But this is just another of this inept governments ideas that will not achieve its goal and they know it, if they were really serious they would stop all alcohol sales except pubs and off licenses but that wouldn't go down to well with their buddies who own the supermarkets, what it would do is throw the pubs a lifeline and take alcohol back into responsible hands.

Score: 0

localnews says...12:46pm Wed 28 Nov 12

ohec wrote…

They can jack the price up as much as they like for all i care the amount i drink won't make them rich, nobody complained about the attack on smokers so now its the drinkers turn. But this is just another of this inept governments ideas that will not achieve its goal and they know it, if they were really serious they would stop all alcohol sales except pubs and off licenses but that wouldn't go down to well with their buddies who own the supermarkets, what it would do is throw the pubs a lifeline and take alcohol back into responsible hands.

Couldn't agree more

[quote][p][bold]ohec[/bold] wrote:
They can jack the price up as much as they like for all i care the amount i drink won't make them rich, nobody complained about the attack on smokers so now its the drinkers turn.
But this is just another of this inept governments ideas that will not achieve its goal and they know it, if they were really serious they would stop all alcohol sales except pubs and off licenses but that wouldn't go down to well with their buddies who own the supermarkets, what it would do is throw the pubs a lifeline and take alcohol back into responsible hands.[/p][/quote]Couldn't agree morelocalnews

ohec wrote…

They can jack the price up as much as they like for all i care the amount i drink won't make them rich, nobody complained about the attack on smokers so now its the drinkers turn. But this is just another of this inept governments ideas that will not achieve its goal and they know it, if they were really serious they would stop all alcohol sales except pubs and off licenses but that wouldn't go down to well with their buddies who own the supermarkets, what it would do is throw the pubs a lifeline and take alcohol back into responsible hands.

Couldn't agree more

Score: 0

G0Rf says...12:51pm Wed 28 Nov 12

its £3 a pint in most pubs now which is why the places are closing down. More tax will mean more pubs closed down and an increase in black market booze....people doing booze cruises and fake spirits etc.

its £3 a pint in most pubs now which is why the places are closing down.
More tax will mean more pubs closed down and an increase in black market booze....people doing booze cruises and fake spirits etc.G0Rf

its £3 a pint in most pubs now which is why the places are closing down. More tax will mean more pubs closed down and an increase in black market booze....people doing booze cruises and fake spirits etc.

Score: 0

Stillness says...12:55pm Wed 28 Nov 12

G0Rf wrote…

its £3 a pint in most pubs now which is why the places are closing down. More tax will mean more pubs closed down and an increase in black market booze....people doing booze cruises and fake spirits etc.

I don't believe in spirits anyway.

[quote][p][bold]G0Rf[/bold] wrote:
its £3 a pint in most pubs now which is why the places are closing down.
More tax will mean more pubs closed down and an increase in black market booze....people doing booze cruises and fake spirits etc.[/p][/quote]I don't believe in spirits anyway.Stillness

G0Rf wrote…

its £3 a pint in most pubs now which is why the places are closing down. More tax will mean more pubs closed down and an increase in black market booze....people doing booze cruises and fake spirits etc.

I don't believe in spirits anyway.

Score: 0

Beer Monster says...12:57pm Wed 28 Nov 12

Agree with ohec - it is frightening to see the rate at which our pubs are closing down, and the decline of responsible drinking that has coincided with it. While I can understand the need for them, unfortunately once these measures are introduced I fear that it will set the precedent to outprice many people (the older generations in particular) from possibly their only method to get out and be social.

Agree with ohec - it is frightening to see the rate at which our pubs are closing down, and the decline of responsible drinking that has coincided with it.
While I can understand the need for them, unfortunately once these measures are introduced I fear that it will set the precedent to outprice many people (the older generations in particular) from possibly their only method to get out and be social.Beer Monster

Agree with ohec - it is frightening to see the rate at which our pubs are closing down, and the decline of responsible drinking that has coincided with it. While I can understand the need for them, unfortunately once these measures are introduced I fear that it will set the precedent to outprice many people (the older generations in particular) from possibly their only method to get out and be social.

Score: 0

On the inside says...1:07pm Wed 28 Nov 12

Why can no one on this site count, add up, or calculate. This will make the price of a pint of basic bitter a minimum of 99p in a pub. Bring it on! Of course it will have no impact on pubs at all as prices will stay the same at around £3 a pint, in fact it will benefit them as they will not be so significantly undercut by supermarkets. £3 per pint is also significantly cheaper than a pint cost in the 70's based on inflation and average wages. A true like for like would be over £4. And before the little englanders start, this has nothing to do with the EU and the money will not go to the government. I hate Torys and despise Lie-Dems but this idea is a good one.

Why can no one on this site count, add up, or calculate.
This will make the price of a pint of basic bitter a minimum of 99p in a pub. Bring it on! Of course it will have no impact on pubs at all as prices will stay the same at around £3 a pint, in fact it will benefit them as they will not be so significantly undercut by supermarkets. £3 per pint is also significantly cheaper than a pint cost in the 70's based on inflation and average wages. A true like for like would be over £4.
And before the little englanders start, this has nothing to do with the EU and the money will not go to the government.
I hate Torys and despise Lie-Dems but this idea is a good one.On the inside

Why can no one on this site count, add up, or calculate. This will make the price of a pint of basic bitter a minimum of 99p in a pub. Bring it on! Of course it will have no impact on pubs at all as prices will stay the same at around £3 a pint, in fact it will benefit them as they will not be so significantly undercut by supermarkets. £3 per pint is also significantly cheaper than a pint cost in the 70's based on inflation and average wages. A true like for like would be over £4. And before the little englanders start, this has nothing to do with the EU and the money will not go to the government. I hate Torys and despise Lie-Dems but this idea is a good one.

Score: 0

Subject48 says...1:19pm Wed 28 Nov 12

Heavean forbid people will stop thinking about next "**** up" and "clubbing" as a geniuine hobby and start paying attention to politics....

Heavean forbid people will stop thinking about next "**** up" and "clubbing" as a geniuine hobby and start paying attention to politics....Subject48

Heavean forbid people will stop thinking about next "**** up" and "clubbing" as a geniuine hobby and start paying attention to politics....

Score: 0

FoysCornerBoy says...1:29pm Wed 28 Nov 12

One consequence from implementing this proposed policy will be to place a check on the growth of the 'bargain booze' type of off licences that have begun to proliferate in some of our neighbourhoods and district centres. Many of these offer high quality premium beer products from Eastern Europe at prices poorer folk (including Eastern Europeans) can afford. I can get 4 x 500 cl bottles of Polish beer (abv 5.6%) from my local international 'grocers' for less than a fiver. They retail in the local pub at £3.60 each. Its little wonder that our Czech and Polish friends choose not to use our high-priced boozers and buy from off licenses.. Applying the 45p per unit tariff on these products (premium rather than super strength) will drive up the price of a bottle of Zywiec, say, from £1.00 to nearer £2.50. Thius will go down like a lead balloon with many East Europeans. The likely outcome is, I suggest, a massive increase in bootlegging from Eastern Europe (as happened with tobacco) and all the crime and racketeering that this entails. Someone needs to think this through a bit more

One consequence from implementing this proposed policy will be to place a check on the growth of the 'bargain booze' type of off licences that have begun to proliferate in some of our neighbourhoods and district centres. Many of these offer high quality premium beer products from Eastern Europe at prices poorer folk (including
Eastern Europeans) can afford.
I can get 4 x 500 cl bottles of Polish beer (abv 5.6%) from my local international 'grocers' for less than a fiver. They retail in the local pub at £3.60 each. Its little wonder that our Czech and Polish friends choose not to use our high-priced boozers and buy from off licenses..
Applying the 45p per unit tariff on these products (premium rather than super strength) will drive up the price of a bottle of Zywiec, say, from £1.00 to nearer £2.50. Thius will go down like a lead balloon with many East Europeans. The likely outcome is, I suggest, a massive increase in bootlegging from Eastern Europe (as happened with tobacco) and all the crime and racketeering that this entails.
Someone needs to think this through a bit moreFoysCornerBoy

One consequence from implementing this proposed policy will be to place a check on the growth of the 'bargain booze' type of off licences that have begun to proliferate in some of our neighbourhoods and district centres. Many of these offer high quality premium beer products from Eastern Europe at prices poorer folk (including Eastern Europeans) can afford. I can get 4 x 500 cl bottles of Polish beer (abv 5.6%) from my local international 'grocers' for less than a fiver. They retail in the local pub at £3.60 each. Its little wonder that our Czech and Polish friends choose not to use our high-priced boozers and buy from off licenses.. Applying the 45p per unit tariff on these products (premium rather than super strength) will drive up the price of a bottle of Zywiec, say, from £1.00 to nearer £2.50. Thius will go down like a lead balloon with many East Europeans. The likely outcome is, I suggest, a massive increase in bootlegging from Eastern Europe (as happened with tobacco) and all the crime and racketeering that this entails. Someone needs to think this through a bit more

Score: 0

The Wickham Man says...1:38pm Wed 28 Nov 12

The doctor must be a lib dem because that is the classic brainless lib dem response to a problem. A small minority of people drink irresponsibly and cause a lot of problems but instead of targetting them (in case they get offended) it's the usual "let's target the entire population so nobody can complain or blame anyone". The solution is to proscribe alcohol abuse and when someone abuses it you make abstinence a condition of their sentence. It is easy to perform random breath tests, and anyone released on license after a rdrink related offence knows that if they drink alcohol while on license they will be immediately arrested and charged with a more serious offence of drinking while banned. We already proscribe alcohol consumption to under 18s - it is not a big extension to proscribe it to those who abuse it.

The doctor must be a lib dem because that is the classic brainless lib dem response to a problem. A small minority of people drink irresponsibly and cause a lot of problems but instead of targetting them (in case they get offended) it's the usual "let's target the entire population so nobody can complain or blame anyone".
The solution is to proscribe alcohol abuse and when someone abuses it you make abstinence a condition of their sentence. It is easy to perform random breath tests, and anyone released on license after a rdrink related offence knows that if they drink alcohol while on license they will be immediately arrested and charged with a more serious offence of drinking while banned. We already proscribe alcohol consumption to under 18s - it is not a big extension to proscribe it to those who abuse it.The Wickham Man

The doctor must be a lib dem because that is the classic brainless lib dem response to a problem. A small minority of people drink irresponsibly and cause a lot of problems but instead of targetting them (in case they get offended) it's the usual "let's target the entire population so nobody can complain or blame anyone". The solution is to proscribe alcohol abuse and when someone abuses it you make abstinence a condition of their sentence. It is easy to perform random breath tests, and anyone released on license after a rdrink related offence knows that if they drink alcohol while on license they will be immediately arrested and charged with a more serious offence of drinking while banned. We already proscribe alcohol consumption to under 18s - it is not a big extension to proscribe it to those who abuse it.

Score: 0

Subject48 says...2:01pm Wed 28 Nov 12

When it comes to beer I would rather have few bottles of one of the "premium" stuff like tyskie, rather then 10 cans of some watered down **** which passes as beer in the uk. Many eastern european originaly were absolutely gobsmacked pubs/clubs were charging such extornate amounts for a pint of one of the 4% (or less) lager type alcohols. So they started to import their own. The wicker man, sadly I dont agree that its a small minority. Have you been in town on firday saturday night recently ?? Stay out until 1-3 am and watch what happens.

When it comes to beer I would rather have few bottles of one of the "premium" stuff like tyskie, rather then 10 cans of some watered down **** which passes as beer in the uk.
Many eastern european originaly were absolutely gobsmacked pubs/clubs were charging such extornate amounts for a pint of one of the 4% (or less) lager type alcohols.
So they started to import their own.
The wicker man, sadly I dont agree that its a small minority. Have you been in town on firday saturday night recently ?? Stay out until 1-3 am and watch what happens.Subject48

When it comes to beer I would rather have few bottles of one of the "premium" stuff like tyskie, rather then 10 cans of some watered down **** which passes as beer in the uk. Many eastern european originaly were absolutely gobsmacked pubs/clubs were charging such extornate amounts for a pint of one of the 4% (or less) lager type alcohols. So they started to import their own. The wicker man, sadly I dont agree that its a small minority. Have you been in town on firday saturday night recently ?? Stay out until 1-3 am and watch what happens.

Score: 0

Over the Edge says...2:13pm Wed 28 Nov 12

FoysCornerBoy wrote…

One consequence from implementing this proposed policy will be to place a check on the growth of the 'bargain booze' type of off licences that have begun to proliferate in some of our neighbourhoods and district centres. Many of these offer high quality premium beer products from Eastern Europe at prices poorer folk (including Eastern Europeans) can afford. I can get 4 x 500 cl bottles of Polish beer (abv 5.6%) from my local international 'grocers' for less than a fiver. They retail in the local pub at £3.60 each. Its little wonder that our Czech and Polish friends choose not to use our high-priced boozers and buy from off licenses.. Applying the 45p per unit tariff on these products (premium rather than super strength) will drive up the price of a bottle of Zywiec, say, from £1.00 to nearer £2.50. Thius will go down like a lead balloon with many East Europeans. The likely outcome is, I suggest, a massive increase in bootlegging from Eastern Europe (as happened with tobacco) and all the crime and racketeering that this entails. Someone needs to think this through a bit more

Another good comment,,,you're on form today,,,the supermarkets will simply demand cheaper prices from brewers (like they do with milk farmers) therefore still making a profit,,,its the retail price per unit that will increase not the trade buying price,,,the supermarkets will not lose,,,,pubs will not see an influx of hardened drinkers,,,you will more and more dodgy imports and some younger people will just nick beer from the shops,,which very common at weekends in our neighbourhoods now

[quote][p][bold]FoysCornerBoy[/bold] wrote:
One consequence from implementing this proposed policy will be to place a check on the growth of the 'bargain booze' type of off licences that have begun to proliferate in some of our neighbourhoods and district centres. Many of these offer high quality premium beer products from Eastern Europe at prices poorer folk (including
Eastern Europeans) can afford.
I can get 4 x 500 cl bottles of Polish beer (abv 5.6%) from my local international 'grocers' for less than a fiver. They retail in the local pub at £3.60 each. Its little wonder that our Czech and Polish friends choose not to use our high-priced boozers and buy from off licenses..
Applying the 45p per unit tariff on these products (premium rather than super strength) will drive up the price of a bottle of Zywiec, say, from £1.00 to nearer £2.50. Thius will go down like a lead balloon with many East Europeans. The likely outcome is, I suggest, a massive increase in bootlegging from Eastern Europe (as happened with tobacco) and all the crime and racketeering that this entails.
Someone needs to think this through a bit more[/p][/quote]Another good comment,,,you're on form today,,,the supermarkets will simply demand cheaper prices from brewers (like they do with milk farmers) therefore still making a profit,,,its the retail price per unit that will increase not the trade buying price,,,the supermarkets will not lose,,,,pubs will not see an influx of hardened drinkers,,,you will more and more dodgy imports and some younger people will just nick beer from the shops,,which very common at weekends in our neighbourhoods nowOver the Edge

FoysCornerBoy wrote…

One consequence from implementing this proposed policy will be to place a check on the growth of the 'bargain booze' type of off licences that have begun to proliferate in some of our neighbourhoods and district centres. Many of these offer high quality premium beer products from Eastern Europe at prices poorer folk (including Eastern Europeans) can afford. I can get 4 x 500 cl bottles of Polish beer (abv 5.6%) from my local international 'grocers' for less than a fiver. They retail in the local pub at £3.60 each. Its little wonder that our Czech and Polish friends choose not to use our high-priced boozers and buy from off licenses.. Applying the 45p per unit tariff on these products (premium rather than super strength) will drive up the price of a bottle of Zywiec, say, from £1.00 to nearer £2.50. Thius will go down like a lead balloon with many East Europeans. The likely outcome is, I suggest, a massive increase in bootlegging from Eastern Europe (as happened with tobacco) and all the crime and racketeering that this entails. Someone needs to think this through a bit more

Another good comment,,,you're on form today,,,the supermarkets will simply demand cheaper prices from brewers (like they do with milk farmers) therefore still making a profit,,,its the retail price per unit that will increase not the trade buying price,,,the supermarkets will not lose,,,,pubs will not see an influx of hardened drinkers,,,you will more and more dodgy imports and some younger people will just nick beer from the shops,,which very common at weekends in our neighbourhoods now

Score: 0

Stillness says...2:39pm Wed 28 Nov 12

The Wickham Man wrote…

The doctor must be a lib dem because that is the classic brainless lib dem response to a problem. A small minority of people drink irresponsibly and cause a lot of problems but instead of targetting them (in case they get offended) it's the usual "let's target the entire population so nobody can complain or blame anyone". The solution is to proscribe alcohol abuse and when someone abuses it you make abstinence a condition of their sentence. It is easy to perform random breath tests, and anyone released on license after a rdrink related offence knows that if they drink alcohol while on license they will be immediately arrested and charged with a more serious offence of drinking while banned. We already proscribe alcohol consumption to under 18s - it is not a big extension to proscribe it to those who abuse it.

I have to agree with you on this one. It wouldn't even need random checks as tags that sense alcohol consumption have been available and in use in other countries for years. The government just need to find a way to price us out of having sex and they'll solve the population problem as well. Someone should write a song about it. "Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?". Oh, too late.

[quote][p][bold]The Wickham Man[/bold] wrote:
The doctor must be a lib dem because that is the classic brainless lib dem response to a problem. A small minority of people drink irresponsibly and cause a lot of problems but instead of targetting them (in case they get offended) it's the usual "let's target the entire population so nobody can complain or blame anyone".
The solution is to proscribe alcohol abuse and when someone abuses it you make abstinence a condition of their sentence. It is easy to perform random breath tests, and anyone released on license after a rdrink related offence knows that if they drink alcohol while on license they will be immediately arrested and charged with a more serious offence of drinking while banned. We already proscribe alcohol consumption to under 18s - it is not a big extension to proscribe it to those who abuse it.[/p][/quote]I have to agree with you on this one. It wouldn't even need random checks as tags that sense alcohol consumption have been available and in use in other countries for years. The government just need to find a way to price us out of having sex and they'll solve the population problem as well. Someone should write a song about it. "Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?". Oh, too late.Stillness

The Wickham Man wrote…

The doctor must be a lib dem because that is the classic brainless lib dem response to a problem. A small minority of people drink irresponsibly and cause a lot of problems but instead of targetting them (in case they get offended) it's the usual "let's target the entire population so nobody can complain or blame anyone". The solution is to proscribe alcohol abuse and when someone abuses it you make abstinence a condition of their sentence. It is easy to perform random breath tests, and anyone released on license after a rdrink related offence knows that if they drink alcohol while on license they will be immediately arrested and charged with a more serious offence of drinking while banned. We already proscribe alcohol consumption to under 18s - it is not a big extension to proscribe it to those who abuse it.

I have to agree with you on this one. It wouldn't even need random checks as tags that sense alcohol consumption have been available and in use in other countries for years. The government just need to find a way to price us out of having sex and they'll solve the population problem as well. Someone should write a song about it. "Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?". Oh, too late.

Score: 0

dolomiteman says...3:11pm Wed 28 Nov 12

Some people seem to be getting ABV confused with units! A can of Zywiec is about 2.5 units so that would mean it will cost just over £1 not the £2.50 'OvertheEdge' is stating.

Some people seem to be getting ABV confused with units!
A can of Zywiec is about 2.5 units so that would mean it will cost just over £1 not the £2.50 'OvertheEdge' is stating.dolomiteman

Some people seem to be getting ABV confused with units! A can of Zywiec is about 2.5 units so that would mean it will cost just over £1 not the £2.50 'OvertheEdge' is stating.

Score: 0

loosehead says...3:30pm Wed 28 Nov 12

Please tell me if I've got this wrong. On telly today they said this would not effect Pubs but bring the price in supermarkets in line with the price in pubs is that not correct? They say about Binge drinking but those who binge are usually the young who maybe work & live at home & couldn't give a **** about the price. this rise is going to effect the Husband & wife who have a gathering of friends at their homes or stay in to avoid the idiots. Where's the extra money going? to the treasury? or will the Companies keep the extra cost? The NHS say it will help combat excessive drinking? Don't they know you can make far stronger Alcohol from Spuds than you can buy in any shop or pub? All your doing is driving people into brewing their own. Tax man loses revenue, Pubs shut & the NHS get less money after all no smoking illnesses no drink related illnesses but higher cholesterol will bring more heart disease. They say they don't want to hit the moderate drinkers? so what do they think this will do? Anyone for a drink run to Calais?

Please tell me if I've got this wrong.
On telly today they said this would not effect Pubs but bring the price in supermarkets in line with the price in pubs is that not correct?
They say about Binge drinking but those who binge are usually the young who maybe work & live at home & couldn't give a **** about the price.
this rise is going to effect the Husband & wife who have a gathering of friends at their homes or stay in to avoid the idiots.
Where's the extra money going? to the treasury? or will the Companies keep the extra cost?
The NHS say it will help combat excessive drinking?
Don't they know you can make far stronger Alcohol from Spuds than you can buy in any shop or pub?
All your doing is driving people into brewing their own.
Tax man loses revenue, Pubs shut & the NHS get less money after all no smoking illnesses no drink related illnesses but higher cholesterol will bring more heart disease.
They say they don't want to hit the moderate drinkers?
so what do they think this will do?
Anyone for a drink run to Calais?loosehead

Please tell me if I've got this wrong. On telly today they said this would not effect Pubs but bring the price in supermarkets in line with the price in pubs is that not correct? They say about Binge drinking but those who binge are usually the young who maybe work & live at home & couldn't give a **** about the price. this rise is going to effect the Husband & wife who have a gathering of friends at their homes or stay in to avoid the idiots. Where's the extra money going? to the treasury? or will the Companies keep the extra cost? The NHS say it will help combat excessive drinking? Don't they know you can make far stronger Alcohol from Spuds than you can buy in any shop or pub? All your doing is driving people into brewing their own. Tax man loses revenue, Pubs shut & the NHS get less money after all no smoking illnesses no drink related illnesses but higher cholesterol will bring more heart disease. They say they don't want to hit the moderate drinkers? so what do they think this will do? Anyone for a drink run to Calais?

Score: 0

elvisimo says...3:36pm Wed 28 Nov 12

Still have the beer tax escalator on Beer in pubs which runs at 2% above inflation so this will make no difference to the pub trade- still screwed. I dont agree with the principle of legislation on the masses to deal with the problems caused by the minority.

Still have the beer tax escalator on Beer in pubs which runs at 2% above inflation so this will make no difference to the pub trade- still screwed.
I dont agree with the principle of legislation on the masses to deal with the problems caused by the minority.elvisimo

Still have the beer tax escalator on Beer in pubs which runs at 2% above inflation so this will make no difference to the pub trade- still screwed. I dont agree with the principle of legislation on the masses to deal with the problems caused by the minority.

Score: 0

loosehead says...3:37pm Wed 28 Nov 12

The Wickham Man wrote…

The doctor must be a lib dem because that is the classic brainless lib dem response to a problem. A small minority of people drink irresponsibly and cause a lot of problems but instead of targetting them (in case they get offended) it's the usual "let's target the entire population so nobody can complain or blame anyone". The solution is to proscribe alcohol abuse and when someone abuses it you make abstinence a condition of their sentence. It is easy to perform random breath tests, and anyone released on license after a rdrink related offence knows that if they drink alcohol while on license they will be immediately arrested and charged with a more serious offence of drinking while banned. We already proscribe alcohol consumption to under 18s - it is not a big extension to proscribe it to those who abuse it.

Totally agree with you. We have laws in place which are not acted on. Pubs can't/shouldn't serve you if they think your drunk but we've hammered pubs out of existence. In Thailand they Stamp Cases of beer when you buy them so why not have it that each Supermarkets cans/bottles have a mark which shows it it's from that store. Then they have to keep a record of who's bought what & if possible a stamp put on said Alcohol at point of sell. If this ends up in under age hands at least you'd have the store they got it from & if a record of the buyers were kept you know who bought it for them & you can arrest them? Why hit the rest of us?

[quote][p][bold]The Wickham Man[/bold] wrote:
The doctor must be a lib dem because that is the classic brainless lib dem response to a problem. A small minority of people drink irresponsibly and cause a lot of problems but instead of targetting them (in case they get offended) it's the usual "let's target the entire population so nobody can complain or blame anyone".
The solution is to proscribe alcohol abuse and when someone abuses it you make abstinence a condition of their sentence. It is easy to perform random breath tests, and anyone released on license after a rdrink related offence knows that if they drink alcohol while on license they will be immediately arrested and charged with a more serious offence of drinking while banned. We already proscribe alcohol consumption to under 18s - it is not a big extension to proscribe it to those who abuse it.[/p][/quote]Totally agree with you.
We have laws in place which are not acted on.
Pubs can't/shouldn't serve you if they think your drunk but we've hammered pubs out of existence.
In Thailand they Stamp Cases of beer when you buy them so why not have it that each Supermarkets cans/bottles have a mark which shows it it's from that store.
Then they have to keep a record of who's bought what & if possible a stamp put on said Alcohol at point of sell.
If this ends up in under age hands at least you'd have the store they got it from & if a record of the buyers were kept you know who bought it for them & you can arrest them?
Why hit the rest of us?loosehead

The Wickham Man wrote…

The doctor must be a lib dem because that is the classic brainless lib dem response to a problem. A small minority of people drink irresponsibly and cause a lot of problems but instead of targetting them (in case they get offended) it's the usual "let's target the entire population so nobody can complain or blame anyone". The solution is to proscribe alcohol abuse and when someone abuses it you make abstinence a condition of their sentence. It is easy to perform random breath tests, and anyone released on license after a rdrink related offence knows that if they drink alcohol while on license they will be immediately arrested and charged with a more serious offence of drinking while banned. We already proscribe alcohol consumption to under 18s - it is not a big extension to proscribe it to those who abuse it.

Totally agree with you. We have laws in place which are not acted on. Pubs can't/shouldn't serve you if they think your drunk but we've hammered pubs out of existence. In Thailand they Stamp Cases of beer when you buy them so why not have it that each Supermarkets cans/bottles have a mark which shows it it's from that store. Then they have to keep a record of who's bought what & if possible a stamp put on said Alcohol at point of sell. If this ends up in under age hands at least you'd have the store they got it from & if a record of the buyers were kept you know who bought it for them & you can arrest them? Why hit the rest of us?

Score: 0

Inform Al says...7:08pm Wed 28 Nov 12

As a pensioner I cannot afford to pay £3+ for a pint so rarely visit a boozer. I know I am not alone in this and suspect that if the pubcos were forced to allow their tenants to buy beer on the open market the prices would tumble and more of us could afford to drink in responsible pubs. It does seem that the gumment would rather ensure that I will not be able to afford to drink indoors either.

As a pensioner I cannot afford to pay £3+ for a pint so rarely visit a boozer. I know I am not alone in this and suspect that if the pubcos were forced to allow their tenants to buy beer on the open market the prices would tumble and more of us could afford to drink in responsible pubs. It does seem that the gumment would rather ensure that I will not be able to afford to drink indoors either.Inform Al

As a pensioner I cannot afford to pay £3+ for a pint so rarely visit a boozer. I know I am not alone in this and suspect that if the pubcos were forced to allow their tenants to buy beer on the open market the prices would tumble and more of us could afford to drink in responsible pubs. It does seem that the gumment would rather ensure that I will not be able to afford to drink indoors either.

Score: 0

loosehead says...9:19pm Wed 28 Nov 12

Inform Al wrote…

As a pensioner I cannot afford to pay £3+ for a pint so rarely visit a boozer. I know I am not alone in this and suspect that if the pubcos were forced to allow their tenants to buy beer on the open market the prices would tumble and more of us could afford to drink in responsible pubs. It does seem that the gumment would rather ensure that I will not be able to afford to drink indoors either.

Listened to the Government minister responsible for this & I called him an idiot. he was asked if you don't want to hit moderate drinkers why are you doing this? he said it wouldn't effect moderate drinkers? he was asked" why are you hitting the majority to stop a minority can't you do some thing else that will effect only that minority" he Said " I'm not hitting the majority I'm hitting the minority" Is he an absolute idiot? Okay put up the price in supermarkets & lower the tax on pubs?

[quote][p][bold]Inform Al[/bold] wrote:
As a pensioner I cannot afford to pay £3+ for a pint so rarely visit a boozer. I know I am not alone in this and suspect that if the pubcos were forced to allow their tenants to buy beer on the open market the prices would tumble and more of us could afford to drink in responsible pubs. It does seem that the gumment would rather ensure that I will not be able to afford to drink indoors either.[/p][/quote]Listened to the Government minister responsible for this & I called him an idiot.
he was asked if you don't want to hit moderate drinkers why are you doing this? he said it wouldn't effect moderate drinkers?
he was asked" why are you hitting the majority to stop a minority can't you do some thing else that will effect only that minority" he Said " I'm not hitting the majority I'm hitting the minority" Is he an absolute idiot?
Okay put up the price in supermarkets & lower the tax on pubs?loosehead

Inform Al wrote…

As a pensioner I cannot afford to pay £3+ for a pint so rarely visit a boozer. I know I am not alone in this and suspect that if the pubcos were forced to allow their tenants to buy beer on the open market the prices would tumble and more of us could afford to drink in responsible pubs. It does seem that the gumment would rather ensure that I will not be able to afford to drink indoors either.

Listened to the Government minister responsible for this & I called him an idiot. he was asked if you don't want to hit moderate drinkers why are you doing this? he said it wouldn't effect moderate drinkers? he was asked" why are you hitting the majority to stop a minority can't you do some thing else that will effect only that minority" he Said " I'm not hitting the majority I'm hitting the minority" Is he an absolute idiot? Okay put up the price in supermarkets & lower the tax on pubs?

Score: 0

Tone says...1:18pm Thu 29 Nov 12

Since the price hike won't apply across the channel I can see booze cruises coming back into vogue. That or more will switch to cannabis which doesn't have a minimum pricing structure and won't screw your liver over.

Since the price hike won't apply across the channel I can see booze cruises coming back into vogue.
That or more will switch to cannabis which doesn't have a minimum pricing structure and won't screw your liver over.Tone

Since the price hike won't apply across the channel I can see booze cruises coming back into vogue. That or more will switch to cannabis which doesn't have a minimum pricing structure and won't screw your liver over.

Score: 0

Stillness says...1:43pm Thu 29 Nov 12

I expect that B&Q are looking forward to the increased sales of copper tube as people start building stills and fermentation tanks.

I expect that B&Q are looking forward to the increased sales of copper tube as people start building stills and fermentation tanks.Stillness

I expect that B&Q are looking forward to the increased sales of copper tube as people start building stills and fermentation tanks.

Score: 0

loosehead says...1:44pm Thu 29 Nov 12

Tone wrote…

Since the price hike won't apply across the channel I can see booze cruises coming back into vogue. That or more will switch to cannabis which doesn't have a minimum pricing structure and won't screw your liver over.

no but messes with your brain & has more cancerous properties than alcohol

[quote][p][bold]Tone[/bold] wrote:
Since the price hike won't apply across the channel I can see booze cruises coming back into vogue.
That or more will switch to cannabis which doesn't have a minimum pricing structure and won't screw your liver over.[/p][/quote]no but messes with your brain & has more cancerous properties than alcoholloosehead

Tone wrote…

Since the price hike won't apply across the channel I can see booze cruises coming back into vogue. That or more will switch to cannabis which doesn't have a minimum pricing structure and won't screw your liver over.

no but messes with your brain & has more cancerous properties than alcohol

Score: 0

loosehead says...1:46pm Thu 29 Nov 12

Stillness wrote…

I expect that B&Q are looking forward to the increased sales of copper tube as people start building stills and fermentation tanks.

That's the way to go. I use to brew my own Wine & beer so bring it on down. No tax collected by the tax man so less funding to the NHS but we still get a drink who will be the losers?

[quote][p][bold]Stillness[/bold] wrote:
I expect that B&Q are looking forward to the increased sales of copper tube as people start building stills and fermentation tanks.[/p][/quote]That's the way to go.
I use to brew my own Wine & beer so bring it on down.
No tax collected by the tax man so less funding to the NHS but we still get a drink who will be the losers?loosehead

Stillness wrote…

I expect that B&Q are looking forward to the increased sales of copper tube as people start building stills and fermentation tanks.

That's the way to go. I use to brew my own Wine & beer so bring it on down. No tax collected by the tax man so less funding to the NHS but we still get a drink who will be the losers?

Score: 0

Stillness says...2:28pm Thu 29 Nov 12

loosehead wrote…

Stillness wrote…

I expect that B&Q are looking forward to the increased sales of copper tube as people start building stills and fermentation tanks.

That's the way to go. I use to brew my own Wine & beer so bring it on down. No tax collected by the tax man so less funding to the NHS but we still get a drink who will be the losers?

Hey it could all be for the good. What about a website where local home brewers can get together and arrange to "sample each others results"? We could show the government that at least "we" can organize a **** up in a brewery. I would love to have a few politicians round for a drink. Now where can I find a recipe for Hemlock Water Dropwort and Foxglove ale?

[quote][p][bold]loosehead[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Stillness[/bold] wrote:
I expect that B&Q are looking forward to the increased sales of copper tube as people start building stills and fermentation tanks.[/p][/quote]That's the way to go.
I use to brew my own Wine & beer so bring it on down.
No tax collected by the tax man so less funding to the NHS but we still get a drink who will be the losers?[/p][/quote]Hey it could all be for the good. What about a website where local home brewers can get together and arrange to "sample each others results"? We could show the government that at least "we" can organize a **** up in a brewery. I would love to have a few politicians round for a drink.
Now where can I find a recipe for Hemlock Water Dropwort and Foxglove ale?Stillness

loosehead wrote…

Stillness wrote…

I expect that B&Q are looking forward to the increased sales of copper tube as people start building stills and fermentation tanks.

That's the way to go. I use to brew my own Wine & beer so bring it on down. No tax collected by the tax man so less funding to the NHS but we still get a drink who will be the losers?

Hey it could all be for the good. What about a website where local home brewers can get together and arrange to "sample each others results"? We could show the government that at least "we" can organize a **** up in a brewery. I would love to have a few politicians round for a drink. Now where can I find a recipe for Hemlock Water Dropwort and Foxglove ale?

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